The urge to slim down has became a need. Well, its all fine to be chubby (and cute, I must say) but…read moresome medical condition somewhere at the lower back needed me to slim down. My rehab doctor said that one of the ways to safely get those muscles working and burning unwanted fat is to swim. At first, I didn't know where to swim. I mean, I'm not comfortable taking off clothes in a public space, really. I looked and asked people on where to go swimming in a public pool with a few people going there. A friend suggested to head on to the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Commissioned Officers' Club Swimming Pool (AFP COC Swim Pool). When I went to the swimming pool place, I was giddily happy because no one was there except for Sam, the caretaker. He told me the rates and what time the pool opens and closes. A few days of swimming and Sam and I were comfortable with sharing our lower back problems, and eventually, fellow swimmers would also share why they were swimming. It was a community of people in AFP COC where you feel you belong right away because they cheer you when you finish a handful of laps without stopping, invite you to triathlon events, and hang out for a quick and healthy dinner.

Just a reminder for everyone who swims in this pool or wants to swim here, you cannot wear board…read moreshorts in this pool. Now that that's out of the way, if you're a resident of Merville, you get to swim in this pool for a small fee. If you're not a resident of Merville, look for a friend or a relative who is and bug the person to accompany you to the pools. It's summer now and the pools are full of children. They're there all day long and I can't blame them. It's too hot not to get yourself into a pool. Oh, you know how from afar you can sometimes smell the chlorine coming from the pool? Well, you can't smell the chlorine of the pools. It doesn't mean that they don't put chlorine. It just means that it isn't that strong. There are always lifeguards watching the place and reminding everyone to be on their best behavior. It's safe here and really clean. So jump in and cool off at the pools.

great pool for lapping though water 70% of the time really blurry. HOWEVER, staff should be…read moreeducated on the MATERIAL (modern athletic shorts (and shirts) today are polyester tricot (dazzle) or microfiber polyester double-knit or twill and are fine for pool chemistry and filters) rather than the FIT of the swimwear. Not everything TIGHT is for swimming.... likewise not everything LOOSE is NOT for swimming. I've seen swimmers in tees, sandos, cycling shorts and leggings made of cotton but were allowed cause it's TIGHT fitting .... and swimmers not allowed for LOOSE shorts EVEN if MATERIAL is for SWIMMING. Don't get stuck in the past!!

I've been going here almost every week to surf the wave pool if I can't go out of town to chase…read moreocean waves which is often. Well, if not for the Philippine Surfing Academy holding Club Manila East as its main venue for its surf programs, I don't think I'd give this place a second thought. But weirdly enough, my toddler daughter loves it here because of their kiddie pool which has an equally fun kiddie slide and baby fountains for extreme toddler enjoyment. Although I always have someone with my kid to make sure she doesn't drown or get kidnapped. Their lifeguards can be negligent. Anyway, on full weekends, the bathrooms are overused and disgusting but do go for the surfing. It's super worth the workout and the price. You'll definitely get hooked. Another review for Philippine Surfing Academy later on but for CME, the place isn't exactly the cleanest or most sosyal hang out spot. There's lots to do but keep your expectations low if you won't be surfing the wave pool.

Located in Taytay, Rizal, Club Manila East, or CME as it is most commonly referred to, is quite…read moreaccessible to anyone who lives in the metro. I've actually been here a couple of times, sometimes with friends and sometimes with family. Without a doubt, I can say that CME is actually a pretty fun place. There are many pools for different experiences, such as the lap pool, diving pool, kayaking pool, and the wave pool, where you can get lessons from a certified surf instructor from the Philippine Surfing Academy. I personally enjoyed the kayaking around, which was really relaxing. If none of those are your things, you can play beach volleyball at their court, or ride the zip line for just P150. The overnight settings are adequate, but nothing special. The place has many function halls and the like, which are great for company seminars, orientations for team-buildings, and conferences.

YMCA Binondo is possibly one of the best places you can get your swim on if you're into exercising…read morewithout the sweat, like me (I'm not a swimmer though, but I can probably swim 500 meters or so, with coffee breaks in between lol--kidding!) Anyway, the first time I went here was when a humble triathlete had a swimming fundraising to help out street animals. Being slightly involved in the event, I found out that YMCA allows these kinds of things to be held there, provided that there are proper arrangements (permits, letters, etc) made like two months or so in advanced. It's a plus, because when they know it's for a cause, they will allow you to use the pool! The 25-meter pool is located at the ground floor, which is the only area I've actually explored in the place. It's the perfect place to do your laps though, especially on a Sunday morning when the pool is almost vacant, or at least during the Sundays that I've been there. The catch though--the water is super cold! For people whose bodies are not used to swimming in these waters, you'd end up shivering after a bit--like me!

My brother-in-law invited me to join him in one of his regular swimming sessions at the Makati Aqua…read moreSports Arena (MASA). It was an impromptu invitation so I was not prepared. In fact, I just brought basketball shorts with me. I was thinking that since it's a public pool, the regulations would be flexible. I was wrong. The regulations here are strictly observed. One must wear proper swimming attire when using the facilities. I could understand the puritanical rules because the swimming pool is well-maintained and everyone present that day appeared to be serious swimmers. MASA looks very much like the big swimming pool at ULTRA. But a smaller pool for children is also available. Makati residents need to pay PHP 50.00, while non-residents are charged PHP 150.00 for the use of the facilities. MASA is open Tuesdays to Sundays from 8:00am to 12:00 noon and then from 1:00pm to 8:00pm. They have clean changing rooms and lockers you can use for a fee. It was a cloudy day when we went for a swim. At first, my brother-in-law was allowed into the pool. But when lightning started to appear in the skies, everyone was instructed by the lifeguards to get out of the water. I was impressed that the guys at MASA were not only strict with the swimming attire, but with the safety of the swimmers, too.

I've come here every so often with my family and I love the ambiance of this place. It is elegant,…read morerelaxing and very family oriented. The staff are always so welcoming and accommodating. We have tried all the areas for dinning, Nishijin with buffet Japanese food which is always so wholesome and delicious, Cafe Asiana in the mornings for breakfast Buffett is outstanding, however today specifically, I enjoyed The continental and ordered myself the bagnet with Tinola rice and it was absolutely fantastic! With my cravings for a Filipino dish, this one was superb! I finished the whole thing by myself which was surprising! And I even elected to try their mango biscoff and it was the perfect dessert for me. highly recommend Palms for every occasion.

So many amenities and very yummy food! This clubhouse is the best clubhouse I have ever been to!read more

I've been here twice already and I keep going back. The water spa is amazing in a way that the…read morewater is luke-warm, the place smells like rose-scented flowers, and the water pressure on each massage area is just enough - not too light nor too strong. My favorite area is the hotspring with different essential oils. It makes my skin glow and fairer. It relaxes not only my body but also my mind. Definitely a must try.

Going to this place is such a treat. The facilities are great and well-maintained. I used to go…read morehere quite a bit when I was in my "triathlon" phase. Yeah, I never really did that triathlon *shrugs* but I still keep coming back to Ace to swim, enjoy their spa and relax my stress away. This place has a real sense of class to it. When you enter the locker room, they remove your shoes and give you a locker to store all your things. You can choose to swim laps in their lap pool, soak in one of their hot/cold baths, or even try out a sauna or steam room. But the main attraction here is the "hydrotherapy massage". As their website claims, it is the first in the Philippines to offer such a service. It's really a trip if you've never experienced it before. Imagine getting a massage but instead of hands, it's water. RIGHT? Little tip, bring a towel with you since it's probably the only thing they don't provide free of charge. Pros -Awesome facilities. Cons -Can get really crowded on the weekends. -A bit pricey. Especially if you forget to bring something.

Oh my God, Splash Island. Droves of families came to this place when it first opened. Blame it on…read morethe heat or the intent to escape shopping centers- every Filipino family wanted to be there. I went once, I think I was about 12. The experience was good, I was more of an Enchanted Kingdom fan back then but I had fun nonetheless. It's been more than a decade already and while this place has gotten quite old through the years, it still provides people a quick escape from the fumes in the city. I wish they could revamp the place, make it greener but that's just me. I think Splash Island is still a good fixture in the country just because it promises to give kids a great time. Tips: 1. A lot of people on weekends. Try to come on a weekday. 2. Call before coming.

I've always wanted to go to Splash Island. Ever since I was a kid in the province, I've heard…read morestories of large swimming pools with unbelievably-tall slides and I keep begging my parents to take me there, not understanding that I'm in Mindanao and it would have been quite impossible. So when I moved to UP Los Baños for college, I immediately made it a point to go to Splash Island and fulfill my childhood dreams. Of course, it didn't quite match up to the water-filled paradise I've constructed in my imagination, but it was good enough on its own. It's the largest waterpark in the country and you can buy a ticket that would let you access all of their slides and attractions. This is a great place to bring your family, but not the best place if you just want to bask in the water in solitude. There will be kids bugging you, I promise.